Abstract: A weighing system having a base region (1), a parallel-guided load receiver (4), at least one transmission lever (2) that is pivotably mounted on the base region via at least one flexural pivot (3), and a coupling element (7) that connects the load sensor to the short lever arm of the transmission lever. The flexural pivot (3), at least one part of the transmission lever (2), and at least one part of the base region (1?) are monolithically formed from a block. The flexural pivot (3) is separated from the rest of the block, and at least one spring connecting segment (36/35/38, 37/35?/39) of the flexural pivot (3) includes two spaced-apart thin material points (36, 38; 37, 39). In this way, a hysteresis-free flexural pivot can be created without the need for separate assembly components.

Abstract: A weighing system having a base region (1), a parallel-guided load receiver (4), at least one transmission lever (2) that is pivotably mounted on the base region via at least one flexural pivot (3), and a coupling element (7) that connects the load sensor to the short lever arm of the transmission lever. The flexural pivot (3), at least one part of the transmission lever (2), and at least one part of the base region (1?) are monolithically formed from a block. The flexural pivot (3) is separated from the rest of the block by four horizontal parallel bores (31, 32, 33, 34) that are adjacently arranged in an annular manner in such a way as to respectively leave a thin connecting segment (36, 37, 38 39) between adjacent bores, and by additional slots. In this way, a hysteresis-free flexural pivot can be created without the need for separate assembly components.

Abstract: A container having flexible walls, in the interior of which container there is arranged a mixer which has a mixing element arranged at a first end of a mixer shaft, it being possible for the mixer shaft with the mixing element to be set moving longitudinally by a drive arranged outside the interior of the container, wherein the mixer shaft can be placed on the inside of a container wall with its second end facing away from the mixing element and can be fixed magnetically on the outside of the container wall, facing away from the inside, by means of a coupling piece, and wherein the coupling piece is operatively connected to a force introducing device belonging to the drive.

Abstract: A weighing system that works on the principle of electromagnetic force compensation has two guide members (12), which as a parallel guide unit connect a load support (14) to a base region (11) fixed to the housing, and at least one transmission lever (17), which is mounted on the base region. The weighing system is configured such that a permanent magnet system may be wider than the body of the weighing system and configured to provide a recess into which the permanent magnet system(s) (29) of an adjacent weighing system (2) or of adjacent weighing systems can project. The permanent magnet system can thus be twice as wide as the body of the system.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus for removing samples or introducing fluids from/into system(s) having flexible walls. A sampler/fluid dispenser (3) is fixed on the outside with a connecting area (4) of its base (5) on a sample removal region/fluid dispensing region (6) of the flexible wall (2) and, in its interior, has a severing element (8). At least the severing element (8) can be pushed forward in the direction of the sample removal region/fluid dispensing region (6) in order to remove the samples and in order to introduce fluids, in such a way that the wall (2) can be perforated within the sample removal region/fluid dispensing region (6). The system (1) comprises containers, bags or tubes for filling, mixing, transporting, storage of media, such as biological liquids, sera, buffers, ultra-pure water and can be used as biological reactors or cell culture vessels in the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insulating element for a fuel cell stack, which is composed of a thermally insulating plastic or plastic composite material. The insulating element is connected to the end plate and the bipolar end plate of the stack and achieves virtually uniform distribution of temperature and flow density along the fuel cell stack in the cell operating mode. As a result, the condensation of product water is prevented.

Abstract: Reactor plant and process for culturing phototropic microorganisms with a reactor vessel and a photosynthetic module, which are connected with one another in a circulation circuit by a pump and can be controlled via a control unit, where in the circulation circuit or in the reactor vessel, a homogenizer is provided, where a light-intensity control of the photo-synthetic module is provided, and where a bypass of the circulation circuit or of the reactor vessel with a filter device which is arranged externally of the reactor vessel for separating off extracellular products during the fermentation is provided.

Abstract: A connector (10) is provided for sterile connection to a complementary connector (12). The connector (10) has a housing (14) with an engagement device (16) to engage a complementary engagement device (18) of the complementary connector (12) along an engagement direction (44). The connector (10) is displaceable relative to the complementary connector (12) along the engagement direction (44) after the engagement device (16) engages the complementary engagement device (18). The housing (14) has a feed-through opening (24) for receiving a sensor (34) and a cover (22). The cover (22) is displaced relative to the connector (10) along the engagement direction (44) to close the feed-through opening (24) in a sterile manner. The connector (10) also has a sterile sensor (34) that is movable along a sensor displacement direction (52) that differs from the engagement direction (44).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying and/or isolating high-molecular compounds, such as high-molecular proteins or protein-type compounds, contained in a solution or a suspension, by means of affinity chromatography using membranes containing metal ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for measuring an oxygen content in a liquid or gaseous sample, comprising a first sensor section (14a) that can be brought into contact with the sample and has a luminescent indicator dye embedded in an oxygen-permeable, first polymer matrix, light guiding means (10) for guiding luminescence excitation light from a light source (31, 32) to the first sensor section (14a), and light guiding means (10) for guiding luminescence emission light from the first sensor section (14a) to a detector (39). The invention is distinguished in that arranged adjacent to the first sensor section (14a) is a second sensor section (14b) that includes the same dye, embedded in an oxygen-impermeable, second polymer matrix.

Abstract: Device for fastening a sensor on containers with a flexible container wall, in particular mixing bags, comprising a sensor support which is fitted with a sensor, bears against an inner wall of the container wall at least with a rear subsurface averted from the sensor, and is guided with a central piece through an opening in the container wall in which the sensor support is fixed on the container wall by a clamping part which can be connected to the central piece, in which the container wall is clamped between the rear subsurface of the sensor support and on a bearing surface, facing an outer wall of the container, of the clamping part, and in which the rear subsurface bears sealingly against the inner wall of the container wall. The sensor support can also have an electronic or optical transmit unit which is connected to the sensor, in which case the transmit unit communicates in a wireless fashion with a receive unit arranged outside the container.

Abstract: Container and method for the mixing of media, in particular as a disposable container, which has at least one closable opening for the introduction and/or removal of the media and has a first sensor for measurement of at least one parameter of the mixture, in which at least one second sensor for measurement of the same parameter is arranged at a distance from the first sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adsorption membranes, comprising microporous polymer membranes into which are incorporated porous silicon dioxide particles modified with hydrocarbon ligands having 2 to 24 carbon atoms as adsorbent particles. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of producing the inventive adsorption membranes as well as devices which comprise the inventive adsorption membranes.

Abstract: A force measuring system with at least two load cells (1, 2), which detect and convert partial forces of the force to be measured into a digital output signal, and with an electronic circuit (5), which calculates a total signal from the output signals of the individual load cells according to the amount of the force to be measured and transmits this total signal to another electronic unit (3) for further processing or data output. The electronic circuit (5) is integrated into at least one load cell (2), whereby the hardware requirements are minimized while detection of the measured values is clearly separated from further processing of the measured values. Advantageously the electronic circuit (5) can be integrated into each load cell (2).

Abstract: A method and device for identifying the type of occupancy of a supporting surface, particularly of a motor vehicle seat (2), with the aid of force sensor-assisted signals. The sensor signals si, which are recorded at predetermined instants ti, or quantities derived therefrom, are continuously stored in a memory (4) in such a manner that, the sensor signals from the recent past, or the quantities derived therefrom are available for analysis at any time, and that the type of occupancy is derived from these stored values using at least two independent calculation methods or using a neural network.

Abstract: A cleaning method for a filter testing device (10) including switching devices (V1–V6), external connections (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) and internal volumes (24, 26, 28, 30, VV1–VV5) that can come into contact with a fluid from a filter device that is to be tested. The cleaning method involves the steps of: selecting one or more internal volumes (24, 26, 28, 30, VV1–VV5) to be cleaned, cleaning the selected internal volumes (24, 26, 28, 30, VV1–VV5) with a cleaning fluid by correspondingly switching the switching devices (V1–V6), and removing the cleaning fluid contained in the internal volumes (24, 26, 28, 30, VV1–VV5) from the internal volumes. Also a computer program product with program parts for implementing the method of the invention or a preferred embodiment thereof, and a filter testing device adapted to be cleaned by the method of the invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cellulosic microporous filtration membrane with upper and lower porous protective layers with a porous sponge-type intermediate layer between the two protective layers, wherein the sponge-type structure consists of two isotropic regions having different pore sizes.

Abstract: Membrane holder for membrane adsorber chromatography comprising a housing body (12) with a reception space for at least one layer of adsorber membranes (22) and at least one first housing cap (34) for closing a first reception space opening, which can be fixed to the housing body (12), a liquid stream being introducible via first liquid guide means (36) through the first housing cap (34) and the first reception opening into the reception opening, so that it passes through the adsorber membranes (22) and flows away through a second reception space opening. The first housing cap (34) can be screwed as a first union nut onto the housing body (12) and a first brace element (24), which can be clamped between the first cap (34) and the housing body (12) via a flange (32) extending beyond the first reception space opening, can be fixed leaktightly in a basket-like insert (14) with a liquid-tight wall and a perforated bottom (18), which is used to receive the adsorber membranes (22).

Abstract: A connector system (10) for producing a sterile connection includes a fluid conduit (32), an engagement device (14, 22) designed to engage with a complementary engagement device (16, 24) of a complementary connector (12), a displacement device (26) with a substantially plane displacement surface (30) and a fluid conduit aperture (60) which extends through the displacement surface (30) and is connected to the fluid conduit (32), with the displacement device (26) being designed to displace the connector (12) and the complementary connector (12) relative to one another in a displacement direction (40) after the engagement device (14, 22) has engaged with the complementary engagement device (16, 24), and with the displacement direction (40) being substantially parallel to the displacement surface (30), and a sterile cover device (20, 74) designed to cover at least the fluid conduit aperture (60) in a sterile manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter element (F), particularly for the static or dead-end filtration of fluids, comprising an inner, essentially hollow supporting core (10) and at least one filter layer (12–14) placed thereon. The inner supporting core (10) is formed as a single piece together with a first end plate (20) and with a second end plate (30). The first end plate (20) comprises a connecting piece (22), which is provided therewith as a single piece and which is fluid-connected to the supporting core (10). The second end plate (30) has a seat (32), which is formed therein, is fluid-connected to the supporting core (10) and is adapted to the shape of the connecting piece (22) whereby enabling a connecting piece (22) of a second structurally identical filter element (F) to be at least partially inserted into the seat (32) in order to establish a fluid connection between the supporting cores (10) of the filter elements (F).